Chapter 3: Because of you.
"Because of you, I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me."
She had been walking for hours and was completely lost. Sydney looked around and she had no clue where she was. In a way, she was happy she was lost. When she was around them, she felt empty and unloved. Shane was her best friend but it was his fault she was like this, and Nate's, and Jason's. Her perfect brothers, with their perfect lives. She kicked a stone in anger and watched as it scattered across the road. Sydney sat down on the curb and let the tears fall, she would never be like her brothers, she would never be loved by her parent's like her brothers are loved by them. As she sobbed into her knees, she heard footsteps approaching her, she looked up and saw a little old woman walking up to her. "Hi there. You lost?"
Sydney just looked at her with no expression on her face. "What's your name?" She asked reaching out to touch her on the shoulder. Sydney flinched back, grabbing her bag and hugging it. "It's OK, I wont hurt you." The woman croaked. Sydney swallowed hard, since when did she become this afraid of people? "What's your name honey?"
Sydney sat there frozen not knowing what to do. "I'm Susan." Susan kept on talking to Sydney, trying to get her to talk but Sydney wasn't doing anything. She couldn't trust her, she didn't trust anyone. She sat there on the grass and tried to read Susan's face. Susan reached out to grab Sydney's arm but that was it. She got up quickly and ran away from the lady who was left confused. She looked over her shoulder and Susan had tilted her head to the side, wondering what she did wrong. Nothing, she did nothing. It was Sydney who was in the wrong, she was afraid of them. Even though they did nothing wrong.
Sydney stopped when she found a pay phone, she quickly went into the telephone box and dug around her pockets for some money. She placed the coins in the phone as she pressed the numbers gently, hoping Shane would pick up and not be filming. "Please be, Shane." She muttered as she heard the phone clink meaning someone had picked up. "Hello?" The voice was not Shane's. It was her mum's, she froze. She didn't know what to say, if at all. "Hello?" She said again.
Sydney still didn't speak. Her mum groaned and slammed the phone down. Sydney did the same thing, she lent on the side of the phone box and ran her hand through her dark matted hair. Why did her life have to be this way?
After walking more and more, Sydney had found a deserted run down town. "Hey baby. I can give you a good time." A tall man said licking his lips and looking Sydney up and down. She felt sick, he was at least in his 30s. She continued to walk but the guy kept following her. "Come on, toots." Sydney looked down and walked faster by the man caught up with her and grabbed her by the hand, pulling her round to face him. "Are you going to work with me here? Or are we doing it the hard way." He asked, a twisted smile on his face. Sydney started to tremble and tried to wiggle her hand free. "Guess it's the hard way." He smirked.
Sydney wished her Shane was here, he would punch this guy in the face and tell him where to go. The man to grope at Sydney and she was petrified. Just then a siren blared out into the town and man dropped his grip from around Sydney and ran off into the alleyways. The cop car pulled up next to Sydney who was still shaking, "Hey sweetie. You OK?" A female officer said getting out of the car. Sydney started to quickly walk again but the woman caught up with her. Why wont everyone leave me alone?! She screamed inside her head. "How old are you?"
"15." Sydney mumbled. "Where's you parents?" She asked, Sydney looked back then at the officer again before shrugging.
"Do you live round here?" She shook her head, no. "We can take you home, Hun. OK?" Sydney didn't have a say in this the woman whisked her away into the back of the car. "Hey, you're Connect 3's sister aren't you?" The male officer asked, Sydney didn't reply. "Yeah, you were on the news this morning. I know where the set is don't worry, my daughter loves them." Of course she loves them. Everyone loves them. My parents love them, more than me. I can see why though. She thought bitterly before resting her head on the window. "What's your name darling?"
"Sydney."
The woman turned to face her. "Sydney what?"
"Gray." She growled, Gray. Nate Gray. Jason Gray. Shane Gray. Sydney Gray. No, I'm not a Gray. 'Gray's are musical. Gray's are talented. Gray's are perfect.' She thought remembering what her father said to her once. She shut her eyes to stop tears from spilling out. She was going back. Back to her family, who she hated. She was tempted to tell the police to not take her back there, but she couldn't. They would make a big deal out of it, get all the social services involved, it would ruin her brothers 'image' – which was the least of her worries - and then her parents would hate her even more. She couldn't do that. This was the end of the road.
"Because
of you, I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty.
Because of you,
I am afraid."
- - - -
Sorry it's so short and took so long.
Review please.
Song: Because Of You – Kelly Clarkson
